Apologies for the large image up there, but cutting it down would've eliminated some of the telling details behind the newest shocker from Netflix: it's eliminating the Netflix branding almost entirely from its DVD-by-mail service, renaming it to "Qwikster," and including the ability to rent video games, as indicated by the Xbox controller on the table above. I'm not sure if this is a snap decision in the wake of their losing up to a million customers last quarter, but certainly someone could've spent more time photoshopping that thing together. (Check the shadows on the popcorn bowl and the controller, for instance.)
According to Reed Hastings' post over on the official Netflix blog, the two websites, qwikster.com and netflix.com, will not be integrated; you'll now have to maintain separate queues on both websites, one for your DVDs and one for your streaming titles. If you already pay for both DVDs and streaming, though, the pricing will stay the same for you (and presumably your account will port over to Qwikstar.com). Says Hastings of the drawbacks:
A negative of the renaming and separation is that the Qwikster.com and Netflix.com websites will not be integrated. So if you subscribe to both services, and if you need to change your credit card or email address, you would need to do it in two places. Similarly, if you rate or review a movie on Qwikster, it doesn’t show up on Netflix, and vice-versa.
Also of note is that the game option for the Qwikster service will be at added cost, as is the case for Blu-Ray rentals.
So, two websites, two companies, two CEOs, two brands. That's a pretty damn bold change that Netflix is making, but perhaps it'll be better for them in the long run. It's obvious enough that they see streaming as their future (why do you think they're keeping the Netflix name to brand it with), but still think they can wring some dollars from the delivery of physical media over the next few years. It's not far-fetched to assume that streaming will overtake all other forms of home entertainment delivery in the next few years, so Hastings seems to be doubling down on that bet, eliminating DVDs from "Netflix" entirely. Also of note is Hastings' statement that they're not going to raise their prices:
There are no pricing changes (we’re done with that!). Members who subscribe to both services will have two entries on their credit card statements, one for Qwikster and one for Netflix. The total will be the same as the current charges.
What do you think about all this? Is it just a naming change? Will this make you more likely to retain your DVD service, or less likely? Here's a quickly-shot and barely-edited Hastings video on the matter (note the flub that wasn't edited out at 1:05 or so):
I hope that substantial increase in streaming talk is not BS.
Hope it's cheep-er than Gamefly.
Apart from the awkward name, this seems like great news. The anger and outrage over this baffles me.
Getting the DVD mailing aspect off the books makes a lot of sense for Netflix going forward as a streaming service. I predict a lot of directionless panic, but this was inevitable, whether it meant shutting down physical distribution altogether, or spinning it off like this. Should help in negotiating content deals with the big studios.
I would gladly unsubscribe from GameFly if there is any competition.
I wonder how much the game option will cost. Also, I hope they're less awful than GameFly.
GameFly has been a catastrophically poor service for as long as I can remember. I just bit the bullet and signed up again two weeks ago, and they still haven't shipped my first game out. They overcharge, underdeliver, and are pretty much just as awful as you can get. I'm psyched that there's finally going to be some real competition in that sector.
Love that they are finally doing games. Gamefly has had a monopoly for far too long. Hopefully Qwister is better for games. Although, I can't say I'm thrilled with having to maintain two different Qs or two different sites.
I'm fairly indifferent to this, considering my wallet and schedule do not allow for DVD delivery. It seems like a rather hasty attempt to patch things, though.
O sweet so I can rent games now to !!!!! I never liked GameFly always wished Netflix would copy gamefly I am rather amused at this. hopefully porting your account over won't be hard.
I don't have a terribly large interest in video game rental since I buy so many anyways, but if it's a couple bucks more on my already existing DVD rental account, I'll probably try it out at least.
@DrPockets000: Everything about this seems to be very quickly put-together, especially that image. It's from qwikster.com, in case I didn't make that clear.
@DrPockets000: Oh, and that video makes me think it was shot Friday and edited by some junior intern.
I'm not sure if I care about the gaming aspect yet though this does seem rather dumb to have to manage two websites now. I rather liked seeing stuff in my DVD queue suddenly be available on instant so I could delete it. I would think it would be much easier for them to handle each person's account to see if they are streaming, DVD or both and then show the appropriate options for adding stuff to their respective queues. I'll probably still keep my DVD service but the whole thing strikes me as unnecessary.
On a side note, will Screened be getting a plugin for Qwikster so we can see our streaming queues now or are there no plans as of yet?
Wow, the photoshop is so bad it looks like the controller isn't even meant to be there. It's so low resolution too.
Well, if they're as quick with videogames as they have been with movies and competitive with their prices consider me signing up for this without hesitation. I'm tired of spending 60 bucks on games and GameFly is awful.
@Rorie: oh yeah, definitely. The image and video are quite unbecoming of a company this huge, and a bit of a suspect introductory piece for Quikster. I was speaking more in terms of the whole business scheme, however. People got pissed because plans that were previously $16 were $23, and plans that were $12 were suddenly $19. As a business move, it makes sense to split the two formats, but the fact that they are painting this as a way of making up to customers is what seems strange.
God dammit.
This is the stupidest move yet for netflix, fuck them. I guess when this goes into effect they will lose my $$ too.. I like the unified service cause I can add things to just one queue and it shows on the streaming one when is available, or I can tell from the dvd queue if a movie is available for streaming. This is just going to be a goddamn mess of having to add things to two queues.
@SenatorSpacer said:
Ditto, if it is, goodbye gamefly!
Wow, didn't expect that. Nice to see a company trying to innovate on themselves, curious about the game rental of course. Might be worth switching over to DVD and game than just streaming for me.